ANDREW WATT Believes TONY IOMMI's Comment About Potential Final BLACK SABBATH Album Was 'Taken Out Of Context'

In a new sit‑down with Brian Hiatt on The Rolling Stone Studio podcast, producer Andrew Watt said Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler wanted to make one more Black Sabbath album following 2013’s 13. Watt attributed the project’s collapse to original drummer Bill Ward being unable to participate for personal reasons, which halted plans for a reunion record by the classic lineup.

Watt pushed back on a recent Classic Rock item in which Iommi gave a different account – saying that Iommi’s comment was taken out of context and stressing that he and the guitarist remain on good terms. Watt also recalled a private listening session in Birmingham the night before the Back To The Beginning concert, when he, Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne reviewed unreleased material and made notes, one of the last such meetings Watt had with Ozzy.

Background helps explain the split in public narratives: 13 did not include Bill Ward after contract talks broke down, Rage Against The Machine’s Brad Wilk played drums on the record, and Tommy Clufetos handled live drumming in support of the album. 13 reached No. 1 on major charts, but talk of a follow‑up faded as the band turned to a farewell tour that began in early 2016.